Container opening device and method of opening a knock-down container



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CONTAINER OPENING DEVICE AND METHOD OF OPENING A KNOCK-DOWN CONTAINERFiled 001,. 21. 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. ,422140Z a @4e/mwrfafeA/f YS UWB WMS* Q Dac., A T A. D. FARNQW Bgg CONTAINER OPENINGDEVICE AND METHOD OF OPENING A KNOCK-DOWN CONTAINER Filed oct. 21. 1963e sheets-sheet a BY 7% M4 rra @mi V5 CONTAINER OPENING DEVICE AND METHODOF Filed OOt. 2l. 1965 OPENING' A KNOCK-DOWN CONTAINER 6 Sheets-Sheet 692 ff; ff? i@ F/G. c

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United States Patent C 3,293,998 CNTAINER OPENING DEVICE AND METHOD FOPENHNG A KNOCK-DOWN CONTAINER Arthur l). Farnow, Verona, NJ., assignerto Superior Packaging Equipment Corp., Carlstadt, NJ. Filed Oct. 21,1963, Ser. No. 317,707 20 Claims. (Cl. 9.3-53) This invention relates ingeneral to devices for opening containers for filling purposes and inparticular to a new and useful device for opening a folded container byen gaging the container on the top and bottom flaps and opening it andfolding it backwardly to break the score line so that the container willremain in an upright position for packing purposes, and to a method ofopening such containers.

Prior to the present invention, machines of many kinds have beenprovided for opening containers which are manufactured and shipped in aknocked-down or flattened condition. A general disadvantage withmachines known heretofore is that they are not completely reliable inoperation and in many instances, the mechanism provided for opening thecontainers and then holding the containers in an open position becomedisassociated with the various panel portions thereof or the containeris contacted or fed in a manner to cause jamming of the operating parts,destruction of the container, or both.

The present invention provides means for opening a container of a typewhich includes a bottom and a top panel, a rst side panel connectedbetween one side of said top and bottom panels, and a second side panelconnected to one of the top or bottom panels and connected to theopposite top or bottom panel by means of a connecting flap. With thecontainers of this nature it is usual to have a flap which interconnectsa side panel with a top or bottom panel arranged in a position tooverlie one of the top or bottom panels. A score line is formed betweenthe panel and its associated side panel and an additional score line isformed between the opposite side panel and its connected top wall. Thesescore lines are such as to predispose the container to lie in aflattened position with the bottom panel and the side panel lowermostand with the top panel and the opposite side panel overlying the sideand bottom panels. Machines provided for opening containers of thisnature include, for example, elements which are provided for dellectionof the side panels in order to move the top panel away from the bottompanel, but such machines require, in addition, means to hold thecontainer at each side after being opened in order to prevent it fromcollapsing. Some attempts have been made to employ mechanisms to movethe top panel and the two side panels in a manner to cause breaking ofthe score lines, in which case the container must be completely openedand then moved beyond an open position to a location at which the scorelines between the side and bottom panels are broken by dellecting theside panels beyond an open position. In such an operation, the fibers ofthe score lines are actually severed and there will no longer be astrong tendency to urge the container to a flattened, non-erectedposition. A disadvantage in the operation of machines of this characteris that the mechanism employed for opening the container does notfunction in a positive manner to hold the top and panels in theircorrectly oriented position while the breaking of the score lines wasbeing effected.

In accordance with the method of the present invention, means areprovided to positively engage the top and bottom panels on the exteriorthereof, which means permits the lateral displacement of the bottompanel in respect to the top panel as well as their vertical displacementrelative to each other for permitting a bending outwardly of the sidepanels, rst to an erected position, and then Mice therebeyond in orderto break the score lines interconnecting the various panels. The methodadvantageously includes pressing the container after it is bentbackwardly beyond an open position in order to press the side flaps inan oppositely extending condition from the original manufacturedcondition so that there would be less tendency for these scores to urgethe container into a ilat condition.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided means forengaging the flattened container from a stack of such containers andthereafter moving the flattened container along a defined feed path. Afeature of the apparatus is that positively timed pusher elements arearranged to move behind each container as it is pulled away from thestack and to advance it in the new feed path in a precise manner. Amovable suction element is then arranged to engage the bottom llap ofthe container and to advance the container positively through this newfeed path. While the container is being positively fed in this manner,the opposite or top flap is engaged by an element such as a suctiongripper which is mounted for slight swaying and lifting movement and iscounterbalanced so that such movement can be effected easily during thepositive feeding of the container by this bottom suction gripper. Themechanism is such that as the bottom panel is advanced, the top panel isretarded and raised to cause opening out of the interconnected sidepanels, first to an erected position and then the bending back thereofbeyond the fully erected position as the bottom suction gripper advancesfurther. After the container is bent back beyond an upright position bythe top suction gripper, the lower suction gripper advances thecontainer under a pressing roller which presses the container into aflattened position with the side panels laying in an opposite positionfrom the manner in which they normally lie after manufacture and withthe score lines thereof fully broken. With the score lines thus broken,the container is moved away from the pressing roller and advanced bypusher elements to the station for stuffing the container with thematerial to be packaged therein while it remains in a fully openedcondition.

A feature of the invention is the provision of novel means for engagingthe container from the exterior of its bottom panel by a suction gripperdevice which comprises an elongated slide over which is directed a slidemember having a suction gripper. Vacuum is applied to a tube which isrotatably mounted within the slide member and which includes a pluralityof openings deilned therein which communicate one after another withopenings defined along the length of the slide member.

The slide which is moved over the slide member has a slot at its bottomwhich communicates with two of the openings on the slide and the slideis timed to move s0 that the slot is aligned with an opening on theslide member as well as a corresponding opening in the tube when it isdesired to apply vacuum to the suction gripper carried by the slide forthe purposes of holding the bottom panel of the container. In thismanner it is possible to apply vacuum to a movable slide member and toalso insure that the vacuum will not leak away from the interconnectingparts as the device is being operated. The vacuum which is directed tothe interior tube which is rotated within the slide member will only becommunicated within the slide when the slide is oriented over an openingin the slide member and an aligned opening of the rotating tube. At allother times the interior tube will always be sealed.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide means foropening knock-down containers for stuiling purposes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method of openingknock-down containers comprising feeding the container through aprescribed feed path by gripping its bottom panel, gripping the toppanel as it is being fed, and holding the top panel while the bottompanel is fed forwardly to permit the sides to move outwardly first to anerected position and then to a position beyond erection for the breakingof the score lines of the associated side fiaps, releasing the top paneland pressing the container with the side flaps folded backwardly, andreleasing the container to permit the side walls to open outwardly to anerected position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which includesan upper suction gripper mounted for slight pivotal and verticalmovement, a lower suction gripper mounted for substantially horizontalmovement and arranged to engage the lowermost flap of a container and tomove the container along a horizontal feed path, the upper suctiongripper being effective to contact the top flap of the container toretard the movement of the top fiap and permit outward and upwardmovement thereof as the bottom fiap is advanced by the lower suctiongripper for the purpose of opening the container to an erected position.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved suctiondevice for engaging containers for moving them through a dened pathwhich includes a slide member having a plurality of openings defined atspaced locations along the length thereof communicating with theexterior through a central bore, a tube rotatable in said central boreadapted to be connected to a source of vacuum and having a plurality ofopenings defined along the length thereof, means to rotate said tube foraligning the opening of said tube with the opening of said slide member,and a slide movable over said slide member having a suction member and abore defined therein communicating said suction member with the lowersurface of said slide, said slides lower surface having a slot definedtherein which is of a size and location to be moved to overlie at leastone opening of said slide member at a time, which opening will provide avacuum connection to said suction member when said tube opening is inalignment therewith.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for openingcontainers which are made or shipped in a flattened or knocked-downcondition which is simple in design, rugged in construction andeconomical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use,reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there are illustrated and described preferredembodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1a is a somewhat schematic, partial elevational and partialsectional view of a machine constructed in accordance with the inventionindicating the manner in which the container is removed from a stack andadvanced along a feed line;

FIG. 1b is a view similar to FIG. la indicating the container top panelbeing engaged by an upper suction gripper member as a lower suctiongripper member advances the container through the feed path;

FIG. 1c is a view similar to FIG. 1b indicating the release of thecontainer by the upper suction gripper member after the container hasbeen folded upwardly to an erected position and then beyond an erectedposition in an opposite direction;

FIG. 1d is a view similar to FIG. 1c of a further portion of the machineindicating the pressing of the container after the container has beenfolded to a reversed position with the score lines broken;

FIG. 1e is a view similar to FIG. 1d indicating the CJI forward feedingof the container after it has left the pressing roll;

FIG. 1f indicates the feeding of a container at the stuffing station;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial elevational and partial sectional view ofthe machine indicating the upper and lower suction gripper members;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary partial sectional and partial elevational viewof the lower suction gripper mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a section taken on the line 5 5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a section taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a somewhat schematic sectional view with the parts indicateddisplaced in order to show communication of the suction gripper memberwith the suction supply line through the slide member;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional and elevational view of the suctiontube;

FIG. 10 is a schematic indication of the sprocket and chain drive forthe machine;

FIGS. 11a to 11d inclusive are schematic side elevational viewsindicating the stages of erection of the container by the upper andlower suction gripper members;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary side elevational view of another embodiment ofthe invention indicating a pivotally mounted suction gripper member forengaging the bottom exterior panel of the container; and

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary top plan view of the device indicated in FIG.12; and

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of another embodiment of manifold.

Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied thereincomprises a device for feeding containers from a stack 10 of containersalong a feed path from which a container 12 is folded from a fiattenedor knocked-down condition through an upright position and then toreversed folded condition for the purpose of presenting the container ata filling or stuffing station in an upright or fully opened position(FIG. la).

As indicated particularly in FIGS. 1a and 2, a motor (not shown) isconnected to drive a main drive shaft 14 which carries a drivingsprocket 16 which is connected by a chain 18 to rotate a shaft 20. Asuction crank member generally designated 22 is pivotally mounted at 24on a frame 26 and is connected through one arm 22a to a connecting linkmember 28 which is also pivotally connected at its opposite end to acrank-disc 30 which is carried by the shaft 20. An opposite arm 22b ofthe suction crank member carries a suction gripper member 26 which maybe adjustably positioned along the length thereof and which communicatesthrough the interior of the arm 22b to a source of suction (not shown).Rotation of the crank 30 with the shaft 20 causes the downwarddisplacement of the arm 22b after the suction cup member 36 engages thelowermost container in the stack 10 and delivers the container 12 ontosupports 38 for horizontal feeding therealong.

As indicated particularly in FIG. 10, the shaft 20 carries a sprocket 40for continuously moving a pusherv chain 42 which is trained to runaround a sprocket 44, an end sprocket 46 (FIG. 1f), and a reversingsprocket 48 (FIG. 1f). The pusher ohain 42 carries a Iplurality ofpusher finger members generally designated 50 at fixed spaced intervalswhich are pivotally mounted on the chain at pivot locations 52. Two setsof such chains with associated pushers are normally provided in order toevenly push the container from each side thereof, but only one has beenindicated for clarity of illustration purposes.

As best indicated in FIG. 2, the pushers 50 yhave a camming surface 52awhich rides on a cam member 54 which extends horizontally along aprescribed portion of the length of the machine. The cam 54 is such thatthe pusher face 52b is inclined forwardly behind eachI container 12 toadvance it along a horizontal feed path without permitting it to bedisplaced backwardly out of alignment.

Each container 12 is then advanced into association with a depressingcam S6 having an inclined surface 56a which directs the forward edge ofthe container 12 downwardly and prevents its premature opening andpresses it downwardly on suction gripper 80 to be described hereinafter.

By referring to FIG. 10, it can be seen that a sprocket 64 may beangularly adjusted on the shaft 14 and fixed in position for thepurposes of varying the timing of a chain 62 which is moved thereby.Chain 62 effects rotation of a sprocket 66 which is carried on a camshaft 68. Shaft 68 carries a sprocket 70 to effect rotation of a chain72 of a lower suction gripper mechanism generally designated A. Shaft 68also carries a cam 74 for operating an lupper suction gripper mechanismgeneral-ly designated B and a cam 73 for operating a suction timer 75which is connected at one line 77 to a source of suction (not shown) andby another line 79 to the upper suction mechanism A.

In accordance with the invention, a plurality of slide members or slideblocks generally designated 76 is pivotally connected to the chain 72 atspaced locations along the length thereof, which chain has a horizontalreach which moves along the top of a slide member or suction manifoldgenerally designated 78.

The slide 7 6 is connected to suction through the manifold 78 in amanner to be described more fully hereinafter to cause suction to act ona suction cup 80 which moves below the container 12 in time to contactthe forward end of a bottom panel 12b thereof (see FIGS. 11a to 11d)adjacent its forward edge in order to grip the container and to advanceit along a horizontal path. As indicated particularly in FIG. 1b,suction becomes effective at the suction cup 80 when the slide 76 ismoved to the position in alignment with the vertical line 82. At thislocation the pusher 50 falls backwardly since the cam 54 terminates atsuchlocation. The container 12 is thus positively advanced from thelocation 82 forwardly by the suction gripper 80 of the sliding block 76and is moved horizontally, as indicated in FIG. lb.

As indicated particularly in FIG. 2, the upper suction gripper mechanismB includes parallel link arm members 84 and 86 which are pivotallyconnected at one end to a mounting block 88 upon which is pivoted acylinder 90 of a suction gripper generally designated 92. The suctiongripper 92 includes a plunger 94 which carries at its outer end asuction cu-p 96 which is reciprocated within the cylinder in accordancewith the application of a vacuum through a conduit 98. The mountingblock S8, together with the suction gripper 92, is carried on the endsof the arms 84 and 86 and is of a weight to exactly counterbalance acounterbalancing Weight 100 which is carried on the outside end of thearm 84.

The suction gripper 92 is brought into association with the container 12by the operation of the cam 74 which pivots a link arm 102 which ismounted on a pivot pin 194 carried on a frame 106. The opposite end ofthe link arm 102 is pivotally connected to a connecting rod 108 which,in turn, is pivotally connected to the outer end of the parallel arm $6.When a high spot on the cam 74 is reached, as indicated in FIG. 2, theparallelogram linkage is shifted to move the suction gripper 82downwardly. The cylinder 90 is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 110 onthe frame 88 and is urged by means of a spring 112 into an obliqueposition, as indicated in FIG. lb. Vacuum is applied to the conduit 98to cause extension of the `plunger 94 and the engagement of a suctioncup member 96 with top wall 121 of the container 12. The vacuum is timedto cause extension of the plunger 94 to effect engagement of the topwall 12! along the trailing edge thereof as the bottom wall 12b is beingadvanced by t-he suction cup B of the block 76 (see FIG. 1lb). As soonas the suction cup 96 engages the container 12, the plunger is movedupwardly to move the container side walls 121 and 12a outwardly alongwith the top wall 12t. The suction is cut off and the container releasedonly after the container is opened to a position at which the sides arebeyond a fu-lly opened position.

The roller follower 102:1 simultaneously rides off the high point of thecam 74, placing the gripper mechanism B in balance once again and thefurther advancing movement of the block 76 causes the rotation of thecylinder with its plunger 94 and the lifting thereof together with theparallelogram arms 84 and 86, as side walls 121 and 12r are pivotedoutwardly from the bottom 12b and the top 12r is moved away from thebottom 12b. Each of the suction cups 80 and 96 continues to hold thecontainer 12 and the motion of the block 76 in the direction of thearrow 114 causes the container to become fully erected, as indicated inFIG. llc. Block 76 continues to move to the left, as indicated in FIG.11d, until the sides 12l and 12r bend beyond the perpendicular in areverse folded direction to cause breaking of the fibers f at the foldlines between the sides in the associated top and bottom panels (seeFIG. 1c).

As indicated in FIG. ld, the block 76 continues to I move forward withthe box 12 which is now reversely formed with the side flaps 12! and 12rinclined backwardly slightly in respect to the direction of feed. Thecontainer 12 is then directed beneath a pressing roller 116 which ismounted on a bracket 118 for adjustable positioning in respect to thefeed path. The container 12 is then flattened in a reverse foldedcondition and is advanced further by the block 76 to permit the walls121 and 12r to spring upright. Since the fibers in the score lines havebeen broken, the box will normally stand upright without requiring anyadditional support.

As indicated in FIG. le, the container 12 is advanced further by thesuction cup 8f) of the block 76 until a pusher 50 is moved upwardly by acam 120 behind the trailing edge 12r to move the container 12 to astuffing station which is indicated in FIG. lf. At the stutiing stationthe container 12 may be easily filled, manually or by mechanism forfilling the container with material (not shown), and thereafter it isadvanced into association with mechanism for sealing the end flapsthereof (not shown).

As indicated in FIGS. 12 and 13, in some instances it is desirable tohold the conveyor at its bottom wall 12b by means of an additionalcentral suction gripper mechanism generally designated 122. This suctiongripper mechanism may advantageously comprise a cylinder 124 which ismounted on the end of an arm 126 which may oscillate freely on a shaft128. A spring 130 is provided to bias the arm 126 to the left orstarting position, as indicated in FIG. l2. The vacuum is appliedthrough the arm 126 to cause a plunger 132 to move outwardly and cause asuction cup 134 at the end thereof to engage a container 136 and hold itdownwardly on a feed slide member 138. Block members 140 and 142 whichare moved by chains to which they are attached carry suction grippers144 and 146 which engage each side of a container 12', with the suctioncup 134 engaging centrally, for example. The block members 140 and 142cause advancing of the containers 12 and the central suction cup 134effects the holding down of the center portion of the container on guiderails 148 as the container is being advanced by the suction cups 144 and146. The arm 126 which carries the cylinder 124 is then pivotedforwardly to the dotted line position, as indicated in FIG. l2, at whichpoint suction is removed and the plunger 132 is moved backwardly intothe cylinder 124 and the arm 126 is returned to its starting position.

A feature of the invention is the method of applying vacuum to the slideor block 76 to enable it to engage 7. the container 12 as it is movedthrough the feed path indicator. The details of construction of thismember are indicated particularly in FIGS. 3 to 9, inclusive. Themanifold 78 is provided with a hollow bore for carrying a rotatablevacuum tube or distributor member 150 therein. Manifold 7S is providedwith a plurality of openings 152 which extend from the boreaccommodating the tube 150 outwardly to a side surface, as indicated inFIG. 4. The openings 152 are spaced at a uniform distance along thelength of the manifold 78.

As indicated particularly in FIGS. 1a and 3, shaft 58 carries a smallsprocket 156 which drives a sprocket 158 by means of a chain 160.Sprocket 158 is on a shaft 162 which carries a gear 164 which mesheswith a gear 166 which is carried on the end of the tube 150 (see FIG.9). Thus, the tube 150 is continuously rotated and the tube contains aplurality of openings 168 which permit communication between theinterior and the tube and the openings 152 when they are aligned. Vacuumis supplied to the tube 150 through a connection 170, and this vacuum iscommunicated to a suction cup 80 through the passages 152 and a passage170 in the slide 76 when the openings 168 are aligned with the openings152. In a preferred arrangement, the block 76 is provided with alongitudinally elongated slot 172 (FIG. 8) which is long enough tobecome aligned with two of the openings 152 to insure that the block 76is provided with vacuum for engagement of the suction cup 80 with thecontainer 12 once the suction cup moves beyond the position 82 until itreaches a position 174, as indicated in FIG. la. A feature of theconstruction is that the power required for producing the vacuum isnever wasted and vacuum is never bled to the atmosphere, since the onlytime the openings 152 are exposed is when the slot 172 overlies one ormore of the openings 152. It is with this arrangement that it ispossible to provide a moving block 76 which is continuously connectedfor applying vacuum to a holding container when the container is to bemoved through a feed path, and with means provided for timing the vacuumfor interruption of the suction when the container is to be released.

Thus, the invention provides a device for positively moving thecontainer and for holding both the top and bottom while the container isbeing opened and simultaneously advanced through a feed path. Theinvention provides an improved method for opening containers whichcomprises opening a container beyond the upright position andreverse-folding the same to break the fold line fibers, thereafterpermitting the container to spring to an upright position. This improvedmethod assures that the container will remain open once it has been sofolded, and it makes the filling of the container a simple matter. Afurther feature is that the container may be fed by the pushers 150after the suction blocks 76 are disassociated therefrom, and no othercentering or aligning means need be provided. The container will remainin upright position with the trailing edge 121F oriented along the frontface of the pushers 50.

It should be appreciated that the broadest aspect of the inventioncomprises a novel means for gripping opposite sides of a container andforcibly opening the same preferably as it is moved along a feed path.In this connection it should be appreciated that once a container isopened it will no longer have a strong tendency to return to acompletely fiattened condition. For the broad purposes of the invention,the machine can operate to merely open the container by forciblyengaging opposite sides to permit outward movement of the side flapsthereof. Once this is done, the container will be predisposed in anopened condition and have little or no tendency to assume a fiattenedcondition again. It has been found, however, that further advantages areobtained by reverse folding the container to completely break the scorelines and to press the container in the reverse condition. After thisreverse folding and pressing is done, the container will handle betterand will remain squared while it is being stuffed and while the fiapsare folded and glued.

In FIG. 14, another embodiment of suction manifold generally designated200 is indicated, which has a top surface 202 over which a slide similarto the slide 76 is adapted to be moved. The manifold 200 includes aplurality of openings 204 arranged at spaced intervals along the lengththereof as in the other embodiment. Suction is applied to an interiorbore through a conduit 206. In this embodiment the means fordistributing or communicating the suction from the conduit 206 to theopenings 204 comprises a rotatable rod member 208 having a groove 210cut into the periphery thereof. The groove 210 is always incommunication with an annular suction chamber 212 which is fed throughthe conduit 206, and when a portion of the groove 210 is aligned withone of the openings 204, suction is communicated to the exterior of themanifold 200. The grooves 210 may be of any desired configuration, andof any desired number for achieving the timing of the communication ofthe vacuum through the exterior openings 204 as the block is moved overthe manifold 200. The rod 208 is rotated, as in the previous embodiment,by means of a gear 214 affixed thereto, which is rotated by a gear 216.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the inventiveprinciples, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of opening a knockdown container made of a single blank witha bottom wall, a top wall, and first and second side Walls, said sidewalls connected between said top and bottom Walls at respective oppositesides thereof, said walls being separated by score lines formed in amanner to urge said first side wall and said bottom wall to lie insubstantially a common plane, with a top wall overlaying the first sidewall and a portion of the bottom wall, and with said second wallextending in substantially the same direction as said first side walland overlaying said bottom wall, comprising the steps of gripping andholding the bottom wall and advancing it along a feed path at a constantvelocity, gripping and holding the top wall in a manner to permit thebottom wall to feed faster than the top wall and to urge said first andsecond side walls with said top Wall to move outwardly from said bottomwall first to a fully erected position with said side walls extendingsubstantially perpendicularly outwardly from said bottom wall, and thento a reverse position with said side walls pressed fiat in the plane ofsaid bottom wall in an oriented position opposite from the initialposition, thereafter pressing the container in the reversed position,and removing the pressing means and permitting the box to spring openoutwardly to an open position.

2. A device for opening knockdown containers formed by walls separatedby score lines formed in a manner to orient the walls with a side wallextending outwardly in a common plane from said bottom wall and with thetop and opposite side walls overlaying the first side wall and bottomwall, comprising first means movable along a substantially straight lineand at constant velocity for engaging one of said top and bottom wallsand moving it in substantially a single plane, second means effective toengage the other of said top and bottom walls and to hold it againstfeeding in the single plane but permitting outward movement of theassociated wall in respect to the opposite wall and the foldingoutwardly of said side walls first to a position extending substantiallyperpendicular in respect to said top and bottom wall and then to aposition extending in a reverse direction from their original knockdowncondition to break the fibers on the score lines and negate the tendencyof the container walls to orient in a flattened position, said secondmeans being releasable from said container after it is folded in areverse folded condition to permit the container walls to springoutwardly to a fully opened condition.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said first means forcontacting said container and feeding it along a substantially singleplane includes a suction gripper adapted to contact a wall of saidcontainer, a slide carrying said suction gripper, means for applyingnegative gripping pressure through said slide to said suction gripper,and means for moving said slide.

4. A device according to claim 2, wherein said second means forcontacting said container includes a suction gripper member for engagingsaid container, means mounting said suction gripper member for up anddown and swinging -movement over the plane of movement of said firstmeans, and means for actuating said suction gripper to engage acontainer.

5. A device for opening knock-down containers having a bottom wall, atop wall, and first and second side walls connected between said bottomand top walls at respective opposite sides thereof, said walls beingoriented substantially fiat by score lines defined therebetween withsaid first and second side walls extending in a common direction,comprising means defining a feed path for containers, a suction manifoldmember adjacent said means defining a feed path, a slide member movablealong said manifold adjacent said means defining a feed path and havinga suction gripper for contacting the bottom wall of a container andadvancing it along said means defining a feed path, means for applyingsuction to said manifold, said manifold and said slide member beingconstructed to communicate vacuum to said suction gripper as said slidemember is moved, and suction means for engaging and holding the top wallof said container to retard its movement in respect to its bottom walland to permit the top and side walls to move outwardly first to a fullyopened position and then beyond the fully opened position backwardly toa reversed folded fiat position with the side walls extendingsubstantially opposite to their originally oriented position and tothereafter release said container.

6. A device for opening knock-down containers having a bottom wall, atop wall, and first and second side walls connected between said bottomand top walls at respective opposite sides thereof, said walls beingoriented substantially fiat by score lines defined therebetween withsaid first and second side walls extending in a common direction,comprising means defining a feed path for containers, a suction manifoldmember adjacent said means defining a feed path, a slide member movablealong said manifold adjacent said means defining a feed path and havinga suction gripper for contacting the bottom wall of a container andadvancing it along said means defining a feed path, means for applyingsuction to said manifold, said manifold including a longitudinallyextending bore, a hollow suction tube rotatable in said bore, means forapplying suction to the interior of said hollow tube, said manifoldhaving a plurality `of openings defined along the length thereofextending from the exterior inwardly to said bore, the tube havingopenings said tube being rotatable to align one of a plurality ofopenings therein with the openings of said manifold, said slide having aslot defined in a surface yoverlaying said manifold, said slide and saidsuction gripper having a passage defined therethrough terminating insaid slot, said slot adapted to overlie at least one of the openings ofsaid manifold as said slide is moved over said manifold, means to rotatesaid suction tube and to move said slide to communicate suction to saidsuction gripper through the opening in said tube and said manifold andthe passageway defined in said slide and suction gripper as said slideis moved parallel to the means defining said feed path, and suctionmeans for engaging and holding the top wall of said container to retardits movement in respect to the bottom wall and to permit the top andside walls to move 10 outwardly first to a fully opened position andthen t0 permit them to move backwardly inwardly to a reversed foldedfiat position with the side Walls extending substantially oppositely totheir originally 4oriented position and to thereafter release saidcontainer.

7. A device for opening knock-down containers having a bottom wall, atop wall, and first and second side walls connected between said bottomand top walls at respective opposite sides thereof, said walls beingoriented substantially flat by score lines defined therebetween withsaid first and second side walls extending in a common direction,comprising means defining a feed path for containers, a suction manifoldmember adjacent said means defining a feed path, a slide member movablealong said manifold adjacent said means defining a feed path and havinga suction gripper for contacting the bottom wall of a container andadvancing it along said means defining a feed path, means for applyingsuction to said manifold, said manifold and said slide member beingconstructed to communicate vacuum to said suction gripper `only as saidslide member is moved, and suction means for engaging and holding thetop wall of said container including a plunger having a suction gripperat one end movable to engage the top wall of said container to retardits movement in respect to its bottom wall and to permit the top andside walls to move outwardly first to a fully opened position and thenbeyond the fully opened position backwardly to a reversed folded datposition with the side walls extending substantially opposite to theiroriginally oriented position and to thereafter release said container.

8. A device for opening knock-down containers having a bottom wall, atop wall, and first and second side walls connected between said bottomand top walls at respective opposite sides thereof, said walls beingoriented substantially fiat by score lines defined therebetween withsaid first and second side walls extending in a common direction,comprising means defining a feed path for containers, a suction manifoldmember adjacent said means defining a feed path, a slide member movablealong said manifold adjacent said means defining a feed path and havinga suction gripper for contacting the bott-om wall of a container andadvancing it along said means defining a feed path, means for applyingsuction to said manifold, said manifold and said slide member beingconstructed to communicate vacuum to said suction gripper as said slidemember is moved, and suction means for engaging and holding the top wallof said container to retard its movement in respect to its bottom walland to permit the top and side walls to move outwardly first to a fullyopened position and then beyond the fully opened position backwardly toa reversed folded fiat position with the side walls extendingsubstantially opposite to their originally oriented position and tothereafter release said container, said suction means including acylinder, a plunger reciprocable in said cylinder member and having asuction element at its end for engaging the top wall yof said container,means for supplying suction to said cylinder member and said suctionelement, and means supporting said cylinder for vertical and swingingmovement above said means defining said feed path.

9. A device for opening knock-down containers having a bottom wall, atop wall, and first and second side walls connected between said bottomand top walls at respective opposite sides thereof, said walls being-oriented substantially fiat by score lines defined therebetween withsaid first and second side walls extending in a common direction,comprising stack means for supporting a stack of containers comprisingmeans defining a feed path for containers adjacent said stack means, aswinging arm member movable through a path to engage the end containerin said stack means and move it out of said stack means and onto saidmeans defining a feed path, a suction manifold member adjacent saidmeans defining a l 1 feed path, a slide member movable along saidmanifold adjacent said means defining a feed path and having a suctiongripper for contacting the bottom wall of a container and advancing italong said means defining a feed path, means for applying suction tosaid manifold, said manifold and said slide member being constructed tocommunicate vacuum to said suction gripper as said slide member ismoved, suction means movable for engaging and holding the top wall ofsaid container to retard its movement in respect to its bottom wall andto permit the top and side walls to move outwardly first to a fullyopened position and then beyond the fully opened position backwardly toa reversed folded fiat position with the side walls extendingsubstantially opposite to their originally oriented position andthereafter release said container, and means for moving said swingingarm member, said slide member and said suction means in timedrelationship.

10. A device for opening knock-down containers which have a bottom wall,a top wall, and first and second side walls connected between saidbottom and top walls at respective opposite sides thereof, said wallsbeing oriented substantially fiat by score lines defined therebetweenwith said first and second side walls extending in a common direction,comprising means defining a feed path for containers, means for holdinga supply of said containers adjacent said feed path, a pivotal armhaving suction means thereon engageable with an end one of saidcontainers for removing it from a stack and depositing it on said feedpath, pusher means movable behind each container as it is deposited onsaid feed path for advancing it forward, means for timing said pushermeans and said pivotal arm to feed each container in succession from thestack along said feed path, first means movable along a substantiallystraight line and at constant velocity for engaging one of said top andbottom walls and moving it in substantially a single plane, second meanseffective to engage the other of said top and bottom walls and to holdit against feeding in the single plane but permitting outward movementof the associated wall in respect to the opposite wall and the foldingoutwardly of said side walls first to a position extending substantiallyperpendicular in respect to said top and bottom wall and then to aposition extending in a reverse direction from their original knock-downcondition to break the fibers on the score lines and negate the tendencyof the container walls to orient in a flattened position, said secondmeans being releasable from said container after it is folded in areverse folded condition to permit the container walls to springoutwardly to a fully opened condition.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein said first means includes aslide member with a suction gripper thereon and including means disposedalong said feed path for depressing the forward end of said containerbefore it is contacted by said suction gripper.

12. A device according to claim 10, including a pressing roller disposedalong said feed path at a location to press the container after it hasbeen reversely folded.

13. A device according to claim 11, including a chain connected to saidslide member for moving said slide member over said manifold, a secondchain connected to said pushers for advancing said pushers, and chaindrive means for timing the movement of said pushers and said slidemember.

14. A device according to claim 11, including cam means disposedadjacent said means defining a feed path arranged to contact said pushermembers to project them above said means defining a feed path forfeeding the container to said slide member and for permitting them tofall backwardly below said means defining a feed path when saidcontainers are being fed by said slide member.

15. A device according to claim 14, wherein said cam means directs saidpusher finger upwardly above said means defining a feed path for feedingthe container after it has been released by said slide member.

16. A vacuum operated article advancing device comprising an elognatedmanifold having a central bore extending along the length thereof with aplurality of openings defined along the length of said manifoldcommunicating the central bore with the exterior thereof, a slide membermovable along said manifold, said slide member having a suction elementwith an interior passage extending from said suction element throughsaid slide member terminating in a slot which is of a size to overlie atleast one of the openings of said manifold as said slide member is movedover said manifold, a suction tube rotatable in the bore of saidmanifold, said suction tube having a plurality of openings thereinarranged to align with the corresponding openings of said manifold whensaid tube is rotated to a predetermined position, and means to move saidslide over said manifold and to rotate said tube to afford communicationfrom the interior of said tube through the openings of said manifold andthe passages of said slide member to said suction member as said slideis moved along said manifold.

17. A device according to claim 16, including a conveyor chain, saidslide being connected to said conveyor chain for movement therewith, anddrive means connected to said conveyor chain and to said suction tubefor rotating said suction tube upon movement of said chain.

18. A device according to claim 17, including an annular passage definedin said manifold around said suction tube, said suction tube having anopening in communication with said annular passage, and means forapplying suction to said annular passage for communicating suction tothe interior of said suction tube.

19. A device for opening knock-down containers having a bottom wall, atop wall, and first and second side walls connected between said bottomand top walls at respective opposite sides thereof, said walls beingoriented substantially flat by score lines defined therebetween withsaid first and second side walls extending in a common direction,comprising means defining a feed path for containers, a suction manifoldmember adjacent said means defining a feed path, said suction manifoldbeing elongated in the direction of the feed path, a slide membermovable along said manifold adjacent said means defining a fecd path andhaving a suction gripper for contacting the bottom wall of a containerand advancing it along said means defining a feed path, means forapplying suction to said manifold, said manifold and said slide memberhaving passages for communicating suction to said suction gripper assaid slide member is moved, said manifold means shutting off suctionfrom the exterior of said manifold except at the location of said slide,and suction means for engaging and holding the top wall of saidcontainer to retard its movement in respect to its bottom wall and topermit the top and side walls to move outwardly first to a fully openedposition and then beyond the fully opened position backwardly to areversed folded fiat position with the side walls extendingsubstantially opposite to their originally oriented position and tothereafter release said container, a pivotal arm mounted adjacent saidslide member, a suction cylinder carried by said arm, a plunger slidablein said cylinder and extending upwardly for movement through the meansdefining said feed path, means biasing'said arm in a direction oppositeto the direction of feed of the container, and means for applyingsuction to said cylinder for causing engagement of said suction memberwith the container, said arm being pivotal to permit movement of saidsuction member with said container as it is advanced by said slidemember, said suction member being effective to hold the containerdownwardly on said feed path.

20. A device for opening a knocked-down container formed by wallsseparated by score lines with the score lilt'Sd in the Walls formed in amanner such that the walls 13 are oriented with a first side wallextending outwardly in a common plane from a bottom wall and with a topwall and an opposite second side wall overlying the rst side wall andsaid bottom wall, comprising rst means for engaging one of said top andbottom walls and moving the engaged Wall in substantially a singleplane, second mea-ns effective to engage the other of said top andbottom walls and to hold it against feeding in the single plane butpermitting outward movement of the associated wall in respect to theengaged wall being moved in a single plane and permitting the foldingoutwardly of said side walls at least to a position extendingsubstantially perpendicularly to the engaged Wall, means for moving saidrst engaging means at constant velocity and for moving said rst andsecond engaging means in timed relationship, means for causingengagement of Said rst means with the container, and means for causingengagement of said second means with the container and for releasing thecontainer after it is folded outwardly, said second means beingreleasable from said container.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,612,823 10/1952Woelfer 93-53 2,699,712 1/1955 Meyer-Jagenberg et al. 93-53 3,104,5989/1963 Davies 93-53 3,107,588 10/1963 Lobdell et al 93-53 3,217,46311/1965 Stannard et al. 93-53 X BERNARD STllCKNEY, Primary Examiner.

5. A DEVICE FOR OPENING KNOCK-DOWN CONTAINERS HAVING A BOTTOM WALL, ATOP WALL, AND FIRST AND SECOND SIDE WALLS CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID BOTTOMAND TOP WALLS AT RESPECTIVE OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF, SAID WALLS BEINGORIENTED SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT BY SCORE LINES DEFINED THEREBETWEEN WITHSAID FIRST AND SECOND SIDE WALLS EXTENDING IN A COMMON DIRECTION,COMPRISING MEANS DEFINING A FEED PATH OF CONTAINERS, A SUCTION MANIFOLDMEMBER ADJACENT SAID MEANS DEFINING A FEED PATH, A SLIDE MEMBER MOVABLEALONG SAID MANIFOLD ADJACENT SAID MEANS DEFINING A FEED PATH AND HAVINGA SUCTION GRIPPER FOR CONTACTING THE BOTTOM WALL OF A CONTAINER ANDADVANCING IT ALONG SAID MEANS DEFINING A FEED PATH, MEANS FOR APPLYINGSUCTION TO SAID MANIFOLD SAID MANIFOLD AND SAID SLIDE MEMBER BEINGCONSTRUCTED TO COMMUNICATE VACUUM TO SAID SUCTION GRIPPER AS SAID SLIDEMEMBER IS MOVED, AND SUCTION MEANS FOR ENGAGING AND HOLDING THE TOP WALLOF SAID CONTAINER TO RETRAD ITS MOVEMENT IN RESPECT TO ITS BOTTOM WALLAND TO PERMIT THE TOP AND SIDE WALLS TO MOVE OUTWARDLY FIRST TO A FULLYOPERED POSITION AND THEN BEYOND THE FULLY OPENED POSITION BACKWARDLY TOA REVERSED FOLDED FLAT POSITION WITH